Wire inverter to existing transfer switch or need another?

They do make 3 way (or more) transfer switches so that you folks know I've seen a 3 way. But as I said above if you get a Inverter/Charger combo it has a built in transfer switch like a UPS and then you add a sub panel and run the outlets from the sub panel instead of the main. >Works great Trust me on that. (Till the inverter fails that is. but that took a long, long time).

Assuming your inverter has no built-in transfer switch (i.e. a non pass-thru type inverter), the safe and simplist way to accomplish this would be to add a second transfer switch by:

a) Redirecting the output of the first switch away from the main panel and into the second transfer switch shore power input terminal.
b) Inverter output then goes to the remaining input terminal (gen) on the second transfer switch
c) Second transfer output then goes to main panel.

This will provide the necessary cascading of the power source(s) without conflict. However (with this config) in absence of adding a separate sub-panel, when on inverter, the refer must be set to LPG and the converter-charger breaker must be switched OFF, else the batteries will discharge prematurely...

3 tons

SFVdave wrote:
Can I wire a 2000 watt inverter to my existing transfer switch so I can use existing outlets while dry camping without the generator. My battery bank will be a bank of 2 12v Lithiums 100amp each. Not going to be a lot of draw. Currently using a 400 watt for my Dish receiver without any issues. DW wants to know if she could use her hair dryer of 1200 watts for 5 minutes too?

My transfer switch selects between two inputs, like all do. Input 1 is shore power input, input 2 is inverter. It is set to switch to inverter when shore power is not present. Works great.

Inverter is a 1000W PSW inverter. In addition I added a subpanel so all that is powered with the inverter are the inside outlets & microwave. (yes, I can run a microwave on a 1000W inverter, a panasonic true inverter, set to 50% power when I am on the inverter).

That way there is no mistake of having the fridge, WH, AC or charger on the inverter!

make SURE the charger is OFF when on the inverter, otherwise the inverter powers the charger to charge the batteries as the inverter draws them down. No, that doesn't work for long!!

SFVdave wrote:
Can I wire a 2000 watt inverter to my existing transfer switch so I can use existing outlets while dry camping without the generator. My battery bank will be a bank of 2 12v Lithiums 100amp each. Not going to be a lot of draw. Currently using a 400 watt for my Dish receiver without any issues. DW wants to know if she could use her hair dryer of 1200 watts for 5 minutes too?

you do not have a built in generator

the only transfer switch you have is the shore power isolation switch in the converter power center

just plug the shore cord into the inverter

move shore cord to portable genny or shore as needed

no NEED to wire into anything else

DrewE wrote:
The transfer switch will select between two inputs. It can't select between three inputs.

Actually, not exactly true !

Some inverter/charger with built in transfer switch, like one of these Samlex units, will select 1 of 3 different inputs, shore power (grid), generator or battery (inverter).



These are actually very easy to install with all connections in one place.



You no longer need a converter ! Simply wire the the DC fuse panel directly to the house battery bank (via a fuse, of course).

Your wife CAN run her hair dryer, especially if you have Lithium batteries, but it may mean you will not have as much energy to run other appliances.

I do not have a built-in gen with a transfer switch for shore power, so I have not thought of this "issue".

I think I see that you can either plug the shore power cable into a pedestal or the inverter (assumes not an inverter/charger) and no problem (with getting 240v and frying everything) same as I do. I am the transfer switch. :)

But what about the built-in gen? I have a portable gen so it is the same thing, the shore power cord goes in that or the inverter or the pedestal. It can't go two places at once.

But if you are not on shore power, and do have the shore cord into the inverter, and fire up the built-in gen, now what? 240v? Yipes.

So the OP asks a good question. If you have a built-in gen and want your plain inverter (not an inverter/charger) to be whole house, what to do?

Mr Wiz has a way ISTR involving a three-way remote switch gizmo, but not clear on the full set-up he has.

Hi,

If the inverter is a hybrid inverter/charger you could wire it to the existing transfer switch, by plugging the shore power cord into the inverter.

The li batteries will have no trouble at all powering a 1200 watt load.

I would investigate going to 24 volts if you have not yet purchased the inverter. Li's are quirky about being paralleled.

SFVdave wrote:
Can I wire a 2000 watt inverter to my existing transfer switch so I can use existing outlets while dry camping without the generator. My battery bank will be a bank of 2 12v Lithiums 100amp each. Not going to be a lot of draw. Currently using a 400 watt for my Dish receiver without any issues. DW wants to know if she could use her hair dryer of 1200 watts for 5 minutes too?

in theory yes in practice I would not

I have a freedom 2000 XC and a Prosine 2.0 and there are a long long long list of others that are like these.. NO TRANSFER SWITCH NEEDED with these devices though a sub panel may be needed.. I will explain

When the Prosine (now failed) was added to the RV what they did was run two lengths of 10Ga Romex one from a 30 amp breaker in the breaker box TO the Prosine (And not the Freedom XC) and the other FROM the Prosine (And now Freedom) to a SUB panel (A 2nd breaker box) They then transfered 3 circuits fromn the main panel to the sub panel

MIcrowave
GFCI
TV/Electronics

Now this did NOT include the outlets by the bed (The Fridge is on that line so they did not include it) I have since added a manual transfer to put that on the same breaker as the GFCI if I need bed power but since I have to manually transfer I lock the fridge on Gas.

How it works.. Normally (I'm odd)
Shore or generator power present the Inverter/Charger charges batteries and PASSES power to the sub panel and from there to outlets and stuff.

Should Shore/Generator become absent.. The inverter instantly switches over in the manner (in my case) of a UPS the TV"s and computers do not even blink the switch over is that fast (On the Prosine that is default. on the Freedom it's an option).

Thus my Factory Transfer switch.. Is not involved in the inverter switching. Freedom XC 2000 is less than 1000 dollars Only issue is I did not like the 120 volt connections They were a pain

The transfer switch will select between two inputs. It can't select between three inputs.

If you don't have a generator, you could certainly wire the inverter to a transfer switch installed as a generator readiness package in lieu of a generator and power the entire RV off of it (well, have everything live--of course you are limited in what you can power in total with the inverter). You would have to make sure you manage your loads properly for it to work well: shut off the converter (which may mean disabling some other things if they happen to share a breaker), not use the air conditioner or electric water heater element if you have one, perhaps force the fridge to propane mode, etc.

It's sometimes simpler to have a transfer switch somewhere after the main panel and only power certain circuits with the inverter, obviously just those that supply power to things you want to use and not those for the air conditioner etc.

If you have a generator, you could wire the inverter to a socket into which you can plug the shore power cord when using inverter power, which is effectively the same as using a transfer switch, just a bit less automatic. If the things you want to use from inverter power are generally modest in power consumption, you could also wire those circuits solely to the inverter and rely on your battery charger to supply the inverter with power when connected to shore power or using the generator. It would potentially slow down the battery charging some. That can work especially well for things like satellite receivers that have a comparatively long start-up cycle after a power interruption before they relearn the channels and program guide and similar things, as it avoids power glitches.

Portable generator? Do you even have a transfer switch?

Otherwise you can use the main cord to plug into the 2000w inverter or if you do have a transfer switch you would need to remove one of the power sources to connect the 2000w inverter.

Hair dryer is fine.